Feeding America reports that 30 percent of seniors who rely on local food pantries say they sometimes must choose between paying for food and paying for medical care. As the infographic shows, older Americans without enough food to eat are at higher risk of developing serious health issues, including heart disease.

Fresh Advantage founder Marydale DeBor has long been aware of malnutrition among the elderly as a critical health issue. In 2009, when Marydale was vice-president for external affairs at a community hospital in Connecticut, she developed a “Senior Suppers” program in collaboration with local senior center organizations. Her hospital began providing daily suppers to seniors in the hospital “healthy foods” cafeteria from 4 to 6 p.m. The cost was low: only $5.00 for a robust meal, with the cost differential (approximately $1.65 per meal) underwritten by the hospital as part of its community benefit program. The program, which is still in operation, proved so popular that the hospital had to install a special phone line for reservations.

LESSON LEARNED: Non-profit hospitals can take an effective first step to support population health through access to healthy food as a platform for their ACA-mandated community benefit programs. By using their own assets—in this case, the food service operation—hospitals can support the nutrition needs of poor and vulnerable people in their communities.

Marydale Debor

Marydale Debor is the founder of Fresh Advantage LLC which she created after 25 years experience in health care administration and philanthropy, when she recognized the urgent need to revolutionize traditional institutional food service. Her goal is to place nutritious, wholesome, and tasty food at the center of medical care and disease prevention, as well as workplace wellness and health promotion.

Want to learn more about the type of work Fresh Advantage does? Read this article to get a peek into a plan that was put together for addressing food insecurity at an urban Community Mental Health Center.

Even before taking office, the Vice President elect is taking action to curtail the programs that help people, mostly low income and people of color. South Dakota governor rejects Medicaid expansionModern Healthcare21 Nov 2016—Virgil Dickson

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard chose to abandon plans toseek Medicaid expansion after meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Daugaard, a Republican who had been supportive of expanding Medicaid eligibility in his state, last week said he would not recommend expansion to the state’s Legislature this year after hearing the incoming administration’s plans for repealing or reforming the ACA.Brian Blase, senior research fellow at the conservative Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia, believes Daugaard was told that consistent with campaign promises, Congress will repeal the federal match for the expansion population.The Affordable Care Act provides 100% financing for Medicaid expansion. The rate would fall to 90% by 2020 and beyond. But the GOP now controls both houses of Congress, and while President-elect Donald Trump has stepped back from a full repeal of the ACA, Republican congressional leaders continue to talk about major changes to the ACA. ...

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Fresh Advantage practices "food care" by developing and delivering strategic operations guidance, custom training, and technical assistance to health care institutions, senior living organizations, and large employers. With "food care", your organization can improve the health and well-being of all the people you serve.